Wooster Police Officers Honored for Heroic Lifesaving Rescue in Submerged Vehicle

The Wooster Police Department is proud to announce that three of its officers were formally recognized during the City Council meeting on April 6th for their extraordinary bravery and decisive actions during a life-threatening water rescue.

Officer Herbert, Master Police Officer (MPO) Schafer, and Officer King received the Life Saving Award. Additionally, for their selfless actions in the face of extreme personal danger, Officer Herbert and MPO Schafer were awarded the Medal of Valor, the department’s highest honor for acts of bravery involving self-sacrifice.

On March 27, 2026, at approximately 5:13 AM, Wooster Dispatch received an emergency call from a woman trapped inside her vehicle after driving into high floodwaters. The conditions were perilous: temperatures hovered at 30°F, wind speeds reached 20 mph, and water levels were rising rapidly.

Officer Herbert was the first to arrive. Without hesitation, she entered the 5.5-foot deep floodwaters to reach the sinking vehicle. By the time she reached the car, only ten inches of the roof remained above water. As the strong current continued to push the vehicle, MPO Schafer arrived and provided a glass-breaking tool.

Despite the freezing temperatures and the risk of being swept away, Officer Herbert climbed onto the roof and shattered the window, sustaining cuts to her hand in the process. Working together, Herbert and Schafer coached the trapped woman to unbuckle her seatbelt before reaching into the submerged cabin to pull her through the window—just as the vehicle’s roof was nearly fully submerged.

Following the extrication, the victim was in severe emotional distress and unable to walk due to the onset of hypothermia. Officers Herbert and Schafer floated the woman to a high point and began the arduous process of carrying her toward medical personnel.

Recognizing that Officer Herbert was injured and bleeding, Officer King immediately stepped into the freezing water to relieve her, assisting MPO Schafer in carrying the victim the remaining distance to the waiting emergency squad.

"The actions of these officers represent the very best of the Wooster Police Department," said Police Chief Matt Fisher. "In a situation where seconds mattered, and the environment was deadly, they did not blink. Their courage saved a life that morning."

Award Definitions

• Award of Valor: Awarded for an act of bravery demonstrating obvious self-sacrifice in the face of death or serious physical injury.
• Lifesaving Award: Awarded for acts that contributed to the effort and attempt to save a person’s life.